Julian Lang is an elder, artist, and dedicated language teacher. He has spent decades talking with elders and poring over documents — including deciphering cryptic field notes from an anthropological linguist a century ago — to help rebuild the structure of his Karuk language. Now, a master-apprenticeship program he helped found is being recognized by linguists as a successful example of language revitalization. Similarly, Jesse Little Doe Baird, a Mashpee Wampanoag language advocate, dedicated years to building a language program that is earning praise for its effectiveness. Her work included analyzing a 1663 Bible in the Wampanoag language. We’ll hear from them and others about building these programs from the ground up.

GUESTS

Julian Lange (Karuk, Wiyot, and Shasta), language teacher and artist

Sandra Hernandez (Tejon Indian Tribe/Kitanemuk) Language and Culture Coordinator for Kern County, Calif.; language learner.

Jessie Little Doe Baird (Mashpee Wampanoag), co-founder of the Wôpanâak Language Reclamation Project